Adjustable fastening device



Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

1 Claim.

My present invention relates to improvements in devices for adjustablyfastening two articles together or two pieces of the same article.Devices of similar function are described and claimed in my U. S.Letters Patent 2,437,765, issued March 16, 1948.

In the type of fastener disclosed in said application a slider isattached to one of the parts and a track upon which the slider moves isattached to the other of said parts, the slider having a clamp to holdit at any desired point on the track. My present invention is concernedwith improvements both in the track and the slider to the end that myimproved device will be better adapted for certain uses, particularlywearing apparel.

In carrying out the present invention I constitute the core of the trackof a resilient material of preferably generally circular or ovalcross-section and secure it to one of the parts by imbedding it in afold or loop of fabric of such part so as to be covered thereby, theadjacent folds of the loop being secured together as by a row ofstitching. In this manner the track has the same appearance as the restof the garment or other part to be joined. The cord constituting thecore of the track may be formed of any suitable material as for examplerubber or metal in the form of a helical spring or otherwise, as willoccur to those skilled in the art. In order to facilitate the clampingaction the slider is preferably provided with a clamping surface whichis suitably roughened or corrugated the better to engage the morerounded and comparatively smooth form of track.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdetailed description taken with the annexed drawing in which Figure 1shows a portion of a skirt containing an illustrative embodiment of myinvention.

Figure 2 is a view of the same with the parts in closed position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view in section along line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 shows an element of the clamp which engages the cord or track.

Figure '7 is a view taken similarly to Figure 4 but showing a differentform of core.

As will be seen from the various figures the cord I0, Figure 3, isembedded in a loop of the fabric Il forming either the waistband I 2 ora top ply of same of the garment, such waistband having rows ofstitching I3-|3. In order to secure the loop the adjacent folds of thefabric are united by means of a row of stitching I4, between the fabricIl and the cord thus covered.

The slider denoted generally by I5 :is similar in many respects to thatdescribed in my Letters Patent referred to. It has a pair of bodyportions IE-IB of arcuate cross section, Figure 5, united by endportions Ilia, IEb, such arcuate portions extending around and beneaththe track formed by cord I0 and fabric II. Each of said body portions isprovided with ears or fins I1 in which the clamp or locking elementdenoted generally by I8 is journalled. `Said element I8 comprises a tabportion I 9 and a cam portion 20. The latter Which is preferably ofarcuate shape as best seen at 2|, Fig. 5, instead of bearing directlyupon the fabric covered cord Ill, bears upon a shoe 22, the innersurface of Which is preferably corrugated as seen in Figures 4 and 6.The shoe 22 may be held in place by means of the four tabs orprotuberances 23-23-23-23 which serve to retain the shoe in place byoccupying the cut out spaces or notches between the ears Il and the endportions Ilia- Ilb. For journalling the tab I8 it is provided withtrunnions 24 which t in the registering holes of the ears Il as shown.Body portion I6 may be provided with laterally extending arms 25--25 toengage beneath a fold of the fabric 26, Fig. 1, and held in place by arow of stitching 21, or other suitable attaching means may be provided.

In Fig. 7 a helical spring 28 is provided in lieu of the cord Il).

When the tab I9 of the clamp is brought from the position shown in Fig.1 to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cam 20 is caused to press the shoe22 against the cord I0 compressing the same so as to produce a strongand effective gripping action.

By having the ends of the cord I0 tapered as at 29 the entry of theclamp upon the track of which cord I0 is the core is facilitated.

Also the improvement comprising shoe 22 is highly useful when othertracks are used, especially that of the prior art consisting of a fabricband having secured thereto spaced wire stop elements, a plurality ofwhich, e. g. four may be engaged by said shoe. In this manner thestrength of the fastening may be greatly increased.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that my improved device is usefulin various applications cam-like clamp and a gripping shoe; the slider 5having a pair of downwardly directed elongated parallel body portionswith their free edges turned toward and spaced from one another andforming a channel to engage around and slide on a track, and a pair ofapertured upwardly directed ns integral With said body portions; thecam-like clamp being pivotally carried by said ns; and said shoe beingdisposed within said slider and below said clamp and captured freeedges.

NOEL STATHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 318,382 Lushbaugh May 19, 1885425,567 Drautz Apr. 15, 1890 642,142 Lyon et a1. Jan. 30, 1900 684,656Watson Oct. 15, 1901 1,656,113 Herman Jan, 10, 1928 1,936,323 Bowen Nov.21, 1933 1,942,625 Whalan et al. Jan. 9, 1934 Statham Mar. 16, 1948

